To the Editor.—
Examination of the hip in the newborn, if performed by orthopedic surgeons, will essentially eliminate serious sequelae of congenital dislocation. The results of five years of such examinations performed in a Community Hospital are presented.It has been the impression of orthopedic surgeons for many years that congenital dislocation of the hip would cease to be a major problem if this diagnosis could be made at birth and immediatly treated. It is, therefore, in our opinion, the obligation of the orthopedic surgeon to perform this examination of the newborn.1This program was instituted at Huntington Hospital, a local community hospital, and 12,010 newborn infants were examined by the orthopedic attending staff between May 15, 1967, and May 15, 1972.
Methods.—
It was the opinion from the start that medical participation in the program should be voluntary and that the statistics obtained should not be made part